The Paris 2024 Olympic judo competition witnessed a series of unexpected outcomes on July 28, with the most shocking being the elimination of Japanese judoka Uta Abe in the -52 kg category. Abe, the reigning Olympic champion and four-time world champion, lost to Uzbek judoka Diyora Keldiyorova in the round of 16, ending her five-year undefeated streak.The match was building quietly for Abe, who had a waza-ari advantage. However, with just 50 seconds left, Keldiyorova accelerated her pace and scored an unexpected ippon, stretching her left foot to take the multi-champion to the ground. The defeat left Abe visibly distraught, struggling to leave the arena amidst a supportive crowd chanting ‘Uta, Uta!’.Other notable eliminations included Spanish judokas David García and Ariane Toro, both losing in the first round. Mexican Paulina Martínez was also eliminated after a tough fight against German judoka Mascha Ballhaus. Ballhaus herself advanced to the quarterfinals before losing to Keldiyorova, but still has a chance for bronze in the repechage round.The day’s events underscored the unpredictability of Olympic judo, with several favorites facing early exits. As the official Paris 2024 profile noted in a message of comfort to Abe, ‘Great champions never die. They may stumble, but always get back up’. The judo competition continues, with remaining athletes vying for medals in their respective categories.
Key points
- Uta Abe, reigning Olympic champion and four-time world champion, was unexpectedly eliminated in the round of 16 at the Paris 2024 Olympics.
- Several other favorites, including Spanish and Mexican judokas, also faced early exits in their respective categories.
- The day’s events highlighted the unpredictability of Olympic judo competition.
Contradictions👾There are slight discrepancies in reporting the exact round of Abe’s elimination, with some sources stating the round of 16, others the quarterfinals, and one mentioning the eighth-finals.
This could be due to different naming conventions for tournament rounds.
